Light exercise available prior to breakfast (walking, gardening, yoga, etc.). Our bus ride to and from Yosemite 3 hours long, roughly 35 miles each way. Getting on/off shuttle. Walking up to 3 miles on mostly flat ground in Yosemite Valley, both paved and unpaved.
Breakfast in Lyles Dining Hall
After breakfast, we will board the shuttle for Yosemite Valley, departing by 8:00 a.m. We will continue to explore the valley floor before our instructor will lead us on a field trip to the Ahwahnee Hotel, where we'll marvel at the architecture, the basketry displays, and the history inherent within its walls.
Lunch at the world-famous, Ahwahnee Hotel. The Ahwahnee is considered the crown jewel of Yosemite dining, and is an award-winning Dining Room. It is both magnificent and intimate. The 34-foot-high beamed ceiling with large sugar pine trestles that complement the room’s granite pillars, floor-to-ceiling windows, chandeliers, linen tablecloths and beautiful china create the perfect ambiance for a memorable dining experience. Following lunch is a tour of the Ahwahnee's great rooms with their exquisite Indian basketry displays and elegant stained-glass windows.
After lunch, our instructor will guide us to take a park shuttle to Yosemite Village to explore the area for the rest of the afternoon before returning to campus by dinner.
Dinner in Lyles Dining Hall
7:00 p.m. - Evening Programs are optional, but usually highly valued as an entertaining and educational cap to the day. Presentations could range from a live animal presentation, living history performance, musical or artistic guests, or lectures on human and cultural history of the area. Our presenters are professionals who enjoy expanding guest's knowledge on Yosemite.